Dr. Colleen Fogarty Draper is the Assistant Director of the Integrative Omics Branch at the Center for the Study of Nutrient-Responsive Systems. Colleen has joined the SanGiovanni laboratory with over 25 years of experience in scientific research, molecular/ personalized nutrition and genomics, clinical dietetics/medical nutrition therapy and product /program and business development.
Colleen has spent the last 8+ years at Nestle in molecular nutrition and systems biology research and translation sciences while simultaneously completing her Life Sciences PhD with the Center for Analytical Biosciences, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research at Leiden University, The Netherlands. Her doctoral work focused on metabolomic response signatures in nutrition and health, sexual dimorphism and hormone chronobiology. She conducted further translation work in microbiome resilience, probiotic, prebiotic therapies and the connection with neurotransmitter functioning; dermatological sciences, fertility and personalized nutrition; sub-clinical mastitis and inflammatory diet intake; and led digital health technology development for diet intake, analysis and recommendation personalization.
Additionally, Colleen spent several years conducting genetic association studies and developing personalized gene tests for pharmacogenomics and nutrition in the areas of inflammation, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, weight management and micronutrient requirements. She earned her master’s degree from Tufts University, School of Nutrition and completed her dietetics program to become a registered dietitian at the Frances Stern Nutrition Center, New England Medical Center Hospital, Tufts University.
Colleen recently pursued 1 year of dermatological science training to understand skin biology as a nutrient response system. Currently, she is merging this learning experience with her molecular nutrition background to investigate non-invasive systems nutrition biomarker sensing using microfluidics, microneedle technologies, and integrative-omics for translation into health care practice and consumer care. Colleen is interested in applying her knowledge to women’s hormonal health and immune-inflammatory precision nutrition.